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Interview interrupts Fernandez's All-Star inning

Interview interrupts Fernandez's All-Star inning

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By Joe Morgan
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MLB.com |

MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez retired two former American League Most Valuable Player Award winners and the Majors' leading home run hitter in order during Tuesday night's All-Star Game, but the 20-year-old rookie's historic performance was forced to share screen time.

As Fernandez joined Hall of Famers Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller as the only starting pitchers younger than 21 to record two or more strikeouts in an All-Star Game, FOX announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver conducted a split-screen interview with Pirates closer Jason Grilli.

Several members of the Marlins regretted that the interview took time away from Fernandez's story. Fernandez, who came to the United States from Cuba, has developed into one of the league's best rookie pitchers after never playing higher than Class A.

"It kind of [stunk] you didn't get to see his whole outing from start to finish, but you got to see the results of it," left-handed reliever Mike Dunn said. "He looked good out there and composed. He did his job."

"It was a little disappointing the fact that you have an up-and-coming, rising star in the game, and we didn't really get to learn anything about him," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "I think maybe the fans outside of Miami missed a chance to meet and hear about such an interesting story.

"Look where this kid's come from. Look at how much he's accomplished in his 20 years. Unfortunately, we're the only ones who know about it, and I think they missed an opportunity to promote a young kid with a great story."

Even though the FOX broadcast did not focus much on Fernandez, Redmond believes the rookie's effort in the Midsummer Classic earned him some notice.

"I've heard a couple of guys say that they were pretty impressed with his stuff," Redmond said. "Sometimes you've just got to go out there and you get yourself noticed with the way you pitch and with the way you carry yourself.

"That's all of us. That's the Marlins, really. Nobody's going to go out there and pump us up. We're going to have to go out there and prove to everyone, 'Hey, we're getting better. We're improving, and look at us. Look at what we can do, too.'"

Joe Morgan is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.